In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 12.2 and Oberon 3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 12.2 and DALI Oberon 3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 12.2 | DALI Oberon 3 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1.125" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Mica-infused polypropylene | 7" Wood Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 47-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-120 watts | 25-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.20kg / 18lbs | 6.32kg / 13.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.1" x 7.8" x 12.3"
335.0 x 200.0 x 313.0mm | 13-3/4" x 7-7/8" x 12-3/16"
350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 12.2 and DALI Oberon 3 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Wharfedale 12.2 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Diamond 12.2 and Oberon 3 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 12.2DALI Oberon 3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Wharfedale 12.2 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 7-inch
|
Diamond 12.2 features a 1" Textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Mica-infused polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Oberon 3 features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Diamond 12.2 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas Oberon 3 has a frequency range of 47-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the Oberon 3 can go slightly deeper then the Diamond 12.2's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Diamond 12.2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Oberon 3 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Diamond 12.2 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Oberon 3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale 12.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Oberon 3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Oberon 3 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Diamond 12.2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Oberon 3.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Diamond 12.2 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Oberon 3 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale 12.2's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Oberon 3's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Diamond 12.2 and Oberon 3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Wharfedale 12.2's and DALI Oberon 3's external dimensions. Wharfedale 12.2 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 200.0 x 313.0mm (13.1 x 7.8 x 12.3inch) whereas DALI Oberon 3 has external dimensions of 350.0 x 201.0 x 310.0mm (13-3/4 x 7-7/8 x 12-3/16inch).
Wharfedale 12.2 is 1mm narrower and 15mm shorter than DALI Oberon 3 but it is also 3mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 12.2 and DALI Oberon 3 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 12.2 and DALI Oberon 3 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Wharfedale 12.2 is approximately 626.0cm2 / 97.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Oberon 3 is approximately 623.1cm2 / 96.6inch2. The Diamond 12.2 requires 0% more surface area than the Oberon 3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale 12.2 and DALI Oberon 3 on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Wharfedale 12.2 weighs 8.20kg / 18lbs and the DALI Oberon 3 weighs 6.32kg / 13.9lbs. This makes the Diamond 12.2 30% heavier than the Oberon 3.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 12.2 and Oberon 3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Wharfedale 12.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 12.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User-feets Manual
What's in the Box of DALI Oberon 3?
Here are the items that come with the Oberon 3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Manual
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
335mm
vs
350mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
47 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
623cm2
vs
626cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 |
DALI Oberon 3 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-120 watts |
25-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
47-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-infused polypropylene |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2400Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
310.0mm (12.2") |
| Weight |
8.20kg (18lbs) |
6.32kg (13.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut,Black,Oak,White |
Black Ash, Light Oak, Dark Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | DALI Oberon 3 digs deeper - 47Hz against 50Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | Wharfedale 12.2 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | DALI Oberon 3 takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale 12.2: bi-amping. Wharfedale 12.2 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Wharfedale 12.2 is cheaper - $599 against $950, about 37% less. |
A Wharfedale 12.2 B DALI Oberon 3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $351 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.